Imperium in Imperio: A Study of the Negro Race Problem eBook

“3. Resolved: That we spend four
years in endeavors to impress the Anglo-Saxon that
he has a New Negro on his hands and must surrender
what belongs to him. In case we fail by these
means to secure our rights and privileges we shall
all, at once, abandon our several homes in the various
other states and emigrate in a body to the State of
Texas, broad in domain, rich in soil and salubrious
in climate. Having an unquestioned majority of
votes we shall secure possession of the State government.

“4. Resolved: That when once lawfully
in control of that great state we shall, every man,
die in his shoes before we shall allow vicious frauds
or unlawful force to pursue us there and rob us of
our acknowledged right.

“5. Resolved: That we sojourn in
the state of Texas, working out our destiny as a separate
and distinct race in the United States of America.

“Such is the proposition which I present.
It is primarily pacific: yet it is firm and unyielding.
It courts a peaceable adjustment, yet it does not
shirk war, if war is forced.

“But in concluding, let me emphasize that my
aim, my hope, my labors, my fervent prayer to God
is for a peaceable adjustment of all our differences
upon the high plane of the equality of man. Our
beloved President, in his message to this Congress,
made a serious mistake when he stated that there were
only two weapons to be used in accomplishing revolutions.
He named the sword (and spear) and ballot. There
is a weapon mightier than either of these. I speak
of the pen. If denied the use of the ballot let
us devote our attention to that mightier weapon, the
pen.

“Other races which have obtained their freedom
erect monuments over bloody spots where they slew
their fellow men. May God favor us to obtain
our freedom without having to dot our land with these
relics of barbaric ages.

“The Negro is the latest comer upon the scene
of modern civilization. It would be the crowning
glory of even this marvelous age; it would be the
grandest contribution ever made to the cause of human
civilization; it would be a worthy theme for the songs
of the Holy Angels, if every Negro, away from the
land of his nativity, can by means of the pen, force
an acknowledgment of equality from the proud lips
of the fierce, all conquering Anglo-Saxon, thus eclipsing
the record of all other races of men, who without
exception have had to wade through blood to achieve
their freedom.

“Amid all the dense gloom that surrounds us,
this transcendent thought now and then finds its way
to my heart and warms it like a glorious Sun.
Center your minds, beloved Congress, on this sublime
hope, and God may grant it to you. But be prepared,
if he deems us unfit for so great a boon, to buckle
on our swords and go forth to win our freedom with
the sword just as has been done by all other nations
of men.

“My speech is made, my proposition is before
you. I have done my duty. Your destiny is
in your own hands.”